Rogue Echo Bike vs. Concept2 BikeErg

Why the coach picked it

• Your arms work too. The Echo's handles move with the pedals. The BikeErg's handles are fixed, so it's legs and lungs only.
• It's what you'll ride at comps. Rogue sells it as the official air bike of the CrossFit Games, and Morning Chalk Up's BikeErg review sends serious competitors to the Echo, while saying the Echo is the weaker pick for steady-state work, warm-ups and cool-downs.
• $895 on a Rogue Hot Deal ($945 normally) with free shipping vs. $1,100 plus $60 shipping for the BikeErg. That's $265 you can put toward a rower or plates.
• The Echo weighs 123 lb vs. 68 lb for the BikeErg. That's a pain to move around the garage, but it's a lot of steel under you on a max-effort sprint.
• Rogue rates it for 330 lb and backs it for two years. Plenty for most of you, though the BikeErg goes higher on both (see below).